The Designer's Mind: Armine Ohanyan

We are thrilled to be able to share some insight into the designer's mind this Vancouver Fashion Week season.

In this segment, we interviewed avant garde designer Armine Ohanyan and her candid answers to our probing questions reaffirm our opinion that she is a designer to watch and we expect great things this season at Vancouver Fashion Week.

Interview Q & A

Q: Describe your creative processA: First of all, I work on theme research, on style and art references. Material work plays an extremely important part in my creations so I start by experimenting with materials in order to find innovative practices. After that, I sketch and I define the colour palette. I work on prints and textile design where needed. Then comes pattern cutting – I develop patterns either in 2D or on models and carry out several fittings to check my patterns. The final stage is of course the assembly through sewing and the final touches.

Q: How do you get unstuck creatively?A: Nature is my first source of inspiration. Without nature, human beings are “nothing”… I am trying to make the connection between Art and Nature. Nature is so fascinating. Each detail is perfect. All is balanced. Humans are nature's imbalance.

Q: How do you stay organized when you have multiple ideas?A: I cannot be organized. Organization means restriction to me. Nature has its own organization and its own rules. Ideas come up without control or on a schedule and they often come at the last minute… So you have to get used to that. Hopefully my husband has a scientific mind and that he can “organize my non-organisation”.

Q: Tell me about a collection that has made you the most proud?A: I am only proud of Nature and Nature is a level that cannot be reached. When my Art reaches the level of true Nature, I will be proud of the result…

Q: What skills are important for a successful career in fashion design?A: Perseverance, creativity, determination, belief in yourself, pugnacity, and lightness….

Q: Why did you choose a career as a fashion designer?A: I have been drawing and painting since I was 6 years old. Before going to France in 2012, my dream was to have my own design house. I studied the Fine Arts in Yerevan at the age of 18, but by then I was already drawing fashion illustrations.

In the beginning I wanted to be a painter artist; but, when I started to work with fabrics and material, I understood that I could push my creative vision further in the fashion industry and develop another expression of fashion design.